As usual, there's links to what the characters look like below and song links...
Also, this is a big episode :3 It's actually my favorite. Let's just say...love...enjoy!
Glee – New Directions: Underdogs Once Again
"Popular"
"And here's the choir room," Antonio announced to Romeo. It was Romeo's first day at McKinley High School, so Antonio decided to show him around. Antonio wanted the last stop to be the choir room since he was certain Romeo would be joining New Directions. There were no rules stating he couldn't, and Antonio would be sure to threaten Mr. Schuester if he dared refuse such amazing talent.
"Thanks for showing me around. I thought it would be easy to find everything since this place is much smaller than Carmel…but I think it might have been harder," Romeo explained. Antonio laughed.
"Well, Carmel has all the classes separated into different wings for each subject from what I heard. McKinley is too cheap for that. Everything is scattered. This is the only school I've been to where the AP Calculus teacher is next to the Special Ed room," he replied.
"I noticed that earlier. Sorry you had to miss lunch, though," Romeo apologized.
"It's no biggie. I'm sure Natalia appreciates you stealing me away. I always bother her during lunch. We're becoming friends," Antonio commented. Romeo looked a bit skeptical.
"Anyway, let's go find Mr. Schue! We have to make sure you can audition today before he starts his lesson!" Antonio urged, leading Romeo into the direction of Mr. Schuester.
Romeo stood on the stage of the auditorium. He looked out into the audience to see the existing Glee club members and Mr. Schuester staring at him, waiting for him to make a move. Romeo didn't feel nervous at all. It was a cakewalk compared to Vocal Adrenaline. All he had to do was sing. It wasn't very difficult.
"Hello. I'm Romeo Jensen; I'm a Junior, and I'll be singing 'Everything You Want' by Vertical Horizon," he stated.
"Somewhere there's speaking. It's already coming in. Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind. You never could get it unless you were fed it. Now you're here and you don't know why. But under skinned knees and the skid marks, past the places where you used to learn…You howl and listen…Listen and wait for the echoes of angels who won't return. He's everything you want! He's everything you need! He's everything inside of you that you wish you could be! He says all the right things at exactly the right time, but he means nothing to you and you don't know why…" Romeo focused his vision towards the audience a bit more before continuing. He thought of Antonio with every beat.
"But you'll just sit tight! And watch it unwind! It's only what you're asking for. And you'll be just fine! With all of your time! It's only what you're waiting for…Out of the island…Into the highway, past the places where you might have turned. You never did notice, but you still hide away…the anger of angels who won't return. He's everything you want! He's everything you need! He's everything inside of you that you wish you could be! He says all the right things at exactly the right time, but he means nothing to you and you don't know why," Romeo looked at Antonio as he continued.
"I am everything you want! I am everything you need! I am everything inside of you that you wish you could be! I say all the right things at exactly the right time, but I mean nothing to you and I don't know why. And I don't know…why," he finished. He gently smiled at the applause granted to him.
"Ehh…you're a spy!" Stella shouted. Alexandra glared at her.
"I, um…don't think he is! Don't be mean!" she scolded. Stella snickered.
"Shut up. I don't have to listen to you," she retorted. Alexandra glared a bit more.
"You…you don't tell me what to do," she looked towards to stage at Romeo, "That was great! Welcome to the Glee club!"
"Thank you, ma'am. It's a pleasure," he smiled at her and headed off stage. Alexandra blushed. I think I might like him…and Shane…but Shane is busy with Stella. I actually have a chance with Romeo! He's nice…and attractive…and yeah!
After Glee club rehearsal that day, Shane passed Stella on the way to his locker. She seemed to be practically molesting some guy he had never seen before. Typical. Shane grabbed his bag from his locker, walking past Stella again. Odd. Now she was making out with a totally different guy. Shane rolled his eyes.
"I don't really feel emotions, but I know that I'm annoyed with her," Shane mumbled to himself. He walked along.
"My girlfriend's a dick magnet. My girlfriend's gotta have it. She's hot, can't stop, up on stage doing shots, tip the man, ring the bell, get her drunk, she'll scream like hell. Dirty girl, getting down, dance with guys from out of town. Grab her ass, acting tough, mess with her, she'll fuck you up. No one really knows if she's drunk or if she's stoned! But she's coming back to my place tonight!" Shane sang as he walked past her trying to get Glen into bed.
"She likes to shake her ass! She grinds it to the beat! She likes to pull my hair when I make her grind her teeth! I like to strip her down, she's naughty to the end! You know what she is, no doubt about it she's a bad, bad girlfriend!" Shane sat on a bench outside, looking at Stella. She was doing everything in her power to get Antonio again.
"Red thong, panties on, love this song, sing along, come together, leave alone, see you later back at home. No one really knows if she's drunk or if she's stoned, but she's coming back to my place tonight," Shane got up, following her as she attempted to seduce a terrified Roderick.
"I say no one really knows just how far she's gonna go, but I'm gonna find out later tonight! She likes to shake her ass! She grinds it to the beat! She likes to pull my hair when I make her grind her teeth. I like to strip her down, she's naughty to the end! You know what she is, no doubt about it, she's a bad, bad girlfriend!" Shane glared at her as she came over to him, being seductive.
"It doesn't take her long to make things right! But does it make her wrong to have the time of her life! Time of her life…my girlfriend's a dick magnet…my girlfriend's gotta have it!" Shane walked away. He looked back and saw her making out with two dudes back and forth.
"She's a gold digger, now figure out it's pull the trigger, future's finished, there it went, savings gone, the money spent, I look around, and all I see is no good bad and ugly. Man she hot fixed me the future Miss Ex-connoly! She likes to shake her ass! She grinds it to the beat! She likes to pull my hair when I make her grind her teeth! I like to strip her down! She's naughty to the end! You know what she is, no doubt about it! She's a bad, bad girlfriend! She's a bad, bad girlfriend!" Shane began walking back towards her.
"She's a bad, bad girlfriend!"
He pulled her away from the two boys much to her surprise. He gave her his usual emotionless look. She glared at him, eyes demanding a valid explanation.
"We're through," Shane coldly asserted. He then walked away, leaving Stella and her slutty behavior out of his life.
Romeo awkwardly walked down the hallway to Antonio's locker. He felt slightly nervous, which was incredibly odd for him. My parents raised me to love romance and be a romantic gentleman! Why am I nervous now?! This should be a cakewalk! Romeo thought to himself. He paused.
"Oh yeah…they taught me how to be romantic in finding my Juliet. They said nothing about romance to a Tybalt. Is Tybalt the right term? Maybe Othello? UGH! I don't care right now!" Romeo rambled to himself. He continued walking, hoping Antonio wouldn't be at his locker.
Romeo thought he'd luck out until Antonio happened to walk to his locker and begin entering his combination. Romeo mentally cursed himself. He lost his train of thought, looking at Antonio's olive skin and red auburn hair. His lips were curled into a soft smile as he put books onto the shelves. Romeo could have melted, but he pulled himself together and approached Antonio.
"Hello!" Romeo greeted. Antonio glanced over and smiled more. He inserted another book and closed his eyes.
"Hi! What can I do for you?" Antonio asked.
"I was, um…wondering if you happened to be free afterschool on Friday?"
"That would be tomorrow," Antonio pointed out. Romeo nodded.
"I know. So how about it?"
"My schedule is clear. Where will we meet?" Antonio asked.
"Find me in the parking lot at five. See ya!" Romeo walked away, feeling awesome. He didn't know he had the guts to actually ask Antonio out on a date. He didn't even care that Antonio didn't realize it would be a date. Antonio would know come the end of it.
Romeo passed Alexandra on the way to his own locker. Alexandra blushed. She heard them talk about going somewhere. I'll follow them…then I'll tell Romeo how I feel! This is perfect! I'm going to have a boyfriend tomorrow! Alexandra smiled, blushing even more. She giggled a bit at the thought.
Antonio met Romeo after school that day. He came to the parking lot as he was told, but looked around. He couldn't spot the mop of blonde hair and chocolate eyes he had grown so fond of. Antonio leaned against the wall, eyes darting around frantically. There was no sign. He was starting to give up hope.
"I'm over here!" Romeo yelled from across the parking lot. Antonio looked in the direction of the voice, smiling as he saw Romeo waving his hand around. Antonio walked right over. He shared a high five with Romeo. He looked to the side and saw a slick, seemingly new motorcycle.
"Is this yours?"
"Yep! Why else would I have this leather on and be holding two helmets," Romeo answered, tossing the second helmet to Antonio.
As Antonio and Romeo carried on conversation before leaving, Alexandra snuck over. She hid behind a car close to them, listening in on them. She smiled when she heard which park they were heading to. It was close, and she knew a shortcut there seeing as how she often took her little sister there. The motor of Romeo's motorcycle roared and the two boys were off. Alexandra came out of hiding and headed to the park, singing.
"I threw a wish in a well. Don't ask me; I'll never tell. I looked to you as it fell, and now you're in my way! I trade my soul for a wish, pennies and dimes for a kiss. I wasn't looking for this, but still you're in my way! You're stare was holding, ripped jeans, skin was showing. Hot night wind was blowing. Where you think you're going baby? Hey, I just met you! And this is crazy! But here's my number, so call me maybe! And all the other boys try to chase me. But here's my number, so call me maybe!" Alexandra made her way to the park. She scouted around and quickly found Romeo joining Antonio on a bench with two ice cream cones. He handed one to Antonio and proceeded to eat his own. Alexandra his behind a bush, spying.
"Antonio, how's the ice cream?" Romeo shyly asked.
"It's good! Extremely creamy and icy," Antonio replied. Romeo smiled.
"That's good, then, hah…"
Alexandra's heart fluttered a bit as she moved to a tree that was a bit closer.
"Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad! I missed you so bad! I missed you so, so bad! Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad! And you should know that! I missed you so, so bad!"
Antonio got a little bit of ice cream on his cheek. Romeo noticed it and leaned over. He brushed his thumb across, wiping the sweet residue off. Antonio and Romeo looked each other in the eyes, both of their heartbeats rising. Their faces flushed a few shades of red. Romeo swallowed and leaned away. He awkwardly licked on his ice cream cone.
"It's hard to look right at you baby! But here's my number, so call me maybe! Hey, I just met you! And this is crazy, but here's my number…so call me maybe! And all the other boys try to chase me, but here's my number so call me maybe!"
The two finished their cones quickly after that. Romeo heaved a sigh and turned toward Antonio. He couldn't hold back any longer. Antonio stared at him, butterflies forming in his stomach.
"Antonio, there's a reason I asked you to come with me tonight…"
"I think I already know, but I like where this is going. Continue"
"Right, so…we've known each other for a while now…"
"About five months, but who's counting?"
"Well, Antonio…for the past three or so months, I began to realize that this friendship we have means more to me than any other friendship. It's silly, but I feel like I've been searching long and far for you. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I just talk to you…and no matter how I was feeling five seconds ago, I feel ten times better just by hearing you say something as simple as 'hello'," Romeo explained. Tears beaded on Antonio's eye lids a bit. Alexandra moved to a bush close to them and began writing her number down.
"Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad. I missed you so bad. I missed you so, so bad!"
"What are you trying to say?" Antonio asked, feeling this moment too good to be true. Romeo moved his head closer to Antonio's.
"Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad! And you should know that!"
"I love you," Romeo choked out. His lips then pressed against Antonio's. Antonio stared in shock for a bit, but melted into the kiss. He closed his eyes and let the passion overwhelm him.
Alexandra popped out of the bush, but still withheld her distance.
"So call me maybe! …" her face turned to horror as she saw Antonio and Romeo kissing. She looked down at her phone number. Alexandra quickly threw it away and ran in embarrassment.
Apollo sat in a park somewhere between Westerville and Lima. He was waiting for Natalia to come, but she was taking a while. He sighed and began singing.
"Every night I have the same old dream about you and me and what's in between. So many changes...so many lies...I try to run and try to hide from everything that I feel inside, but I can't escape you or your frozen eyes…" Natalia appeared behind him.
"But you didn't have to cut me off!" Natalia sang.
"Stone cold!" Apollo sang.
"Make out like it never happened"
"I thought I knew you so well"
"And that we were nothing!"
"Can't break away from your spell…"
"But I don't really need your love! You treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough! But you didn't have to stoop so low! Have your friends collect your record and then change your number! I guess that I don't need that though…now you're just somebody that I used to know"
"Stone cold!"
"Now you're just somebody that I used to know!"
"Stone cold!"
"Now you're just somebody that I used to know!". Natalia sat by him, and continued singing.
"Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over! But had me believing it was always something that I'd done!"
"Searching in the darkness!" Apollo sang.
"But I don't wanna live that way!"
"Fading into sight!"
"Reading into every word you say!"
"Love was here and gone!"
"You said that you could let it go!"
"Like a thief in the night!"
"And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know!"
"Stone cold! You put me in the deep freeze!" Apollo practically shouted.
"Somebody"
"Oh baby, don't you leave me!"
"Now you're just somebody that I used to know…"
Apollo and Natalia looked at each other. They kind of laughed.
"That was quite the singing feud we just had," Apollo commented. Natalia nodded.
"That it was. It really helped me release some feelings that were pent up. I can't believe it…three years apart and we've changed so much. I miss when we used to be able to hug and kiss and stuff to be honest," she noted.
"Well, we don't have to say good-bye to that," Apollo pointed out.
"What do you mean?"
"How about we give our relationship another chance? If you're not satisfied within sixty days, I will return all of your old feelings back. It's a risk free guarantee," Apollo persuaded. Natalia shrugged.
"I don't see why not. It's a good start," she said. Apollo smiled.
"Great. Our first date back together starts now!"
Lei, Shantel, and Mimi showed up at Alexandra's house. They were concerned about something, and they had to get reassurance. Shantel knocked on the door. After a forty-five second wait, Alexandra finally slowly opened the door. She invited the other three in.
"Alexandra, how come we haven't been able to reach you by phone?" Lei asked. Alexandra sighed.
"Some creeper got a hold of my phone number…I wrote it down, but threw it away. Before I knew it, there were actually several creepers calling me," she explained, writing down her new number for them. They proceeded to put it in their phones.
"Why were you writing down your number?" Mimi asked. Alexandra blushed.
"Please don't make me say why…"
"Tell us. I demand it. Do you want me to get my axe?" Shantel commanded. Alexandra whimpered.
"Fine! I was going to give it to a guy, but I saw he was taken…so I backed off. Besides, had I given my number to him, it would have been all awkward and whatnot! I have feelings for Shane. You know that. I know that. And I know he broke up with Stella, but he wouldn't be interested in me. I'm too plain…" Alexandra ranted. Mimi and Lei gave her sympathetic looks. Shantel smiled.
"Sounds like you need a makeover. Am I right?" Shantel recommended. The other two nodded. Alexandra took a look of worry.
"As nice as that sounds, I'm not sure. Do I get to choose my look?" she asked. Shantel nodded.
"Of course. The point is to feel good! So, what do you want?"
"I want to look like a rock star. You see, when I was in middle school, I used to dress like a rock star…but I was considered to flashy and people gave me weird looks. I don't really care now. I'm sick of these plain clothes and skirts!"
"Great! Let's get started! Alexandra, since we're friends, we're making you our new project!"
"Well, you know you really don't have to…" Alexandra muttered. Mimi smiled.
"We know…that's what makes us so nice!" she said. The three girls dragged Alexandra up to her bedroom. They proceeded to project makeover.
"Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I, and let's face it…who isn't…less fortunate than I! My tender heart tends to start to bleed!" Shantel sang.
"And when someone needs a makeover, I simply have to take over," Mimi sang.
"I know, I know…exactly…what they need!" Lei sang.
"And even in your case…though you're the toughest case I've yet to face! Don't worry! I'm determined to succeed!" Shantel sang.
"Follow my lead and yes indeed!" Mimi sang.
"You…will…be…" Lei sang. They all started to sing in unison while advancing through the makeover.
"Popular! You're gonna be popular! We'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys, little ways to flirt and flounce! Oo! We'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair! Everything that really counts to be popular! We'll help you be popular! You'll hang with the right cohorts, you'll be good at sports, know the slang you've got to know! So let's start, cause you've got an awfully long way to go!"
"When I see depressing creatures with unprepossessing features, remind them on their behalf to think of…" Mimi sang.
"Celebrated heads of state or specially great communicators! Did they have brains or knowledge?" Lei sang.
"Don't make me laugh!" Shantel muttered. They continued in unison.
"They were popular! Please! It's all about popular! It's not about aptitude, it's the way you're viewed! So it's very shrewd to be! Very, very popular like me!"
"Look at you, Alexandra! You're beautiful!" Lei exclaimed. Alexandra got emotional, staring at her reflection. It reminded her of when she was younger. She felt almost like she was about to cry, so she stood up.
"I have to go," she murmured, running off.
"You're welcome?" Lei muttered. Shantel shrugged.
"And though you protest…your disinterest…I know clandestinely!" Shantel sang.
"You're gonna grin and bear it! Your newfound popularity! Hah!" Mimi sang.
"La, la! La la! You'll be popular!" Lei sang. Shantel shook her head.
"Just not quite as popular…as…me!"
Songs:
Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon - watch?v=HKW0uelA6Dw
Bad Girlfriend by Theory of a Deadman - watch?v=L2k8qjSnvS0
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen - watch?v=RWAdb1vgoik
Stone Cold / Somebody That I Used to Know - watch?v=KPwy9ToKHpo watch?v=4jW59m6Nsxs
Popular from Wicked - watch?v=0x6VTnjGHjU
Characters:
Antonio Duval: /0u7rq6sha0u
Romeo Jensen: /022gi4fnsg4d
Alexandra Bryant (before makeover), Stella Romero, and Shane Alcotte: /d5airem
Lei Chen: /d5ampcl
Shantel Olson and Glen Olson (sort of?): art/Halloween-335559941
Mimi Martin: /d59h9kr
So, thanks for reading, guys! ^^ The next chapter is a duet one...it's going to be cute!